Kitchen tool

ABSTRACT

A device comprising an elongated bar member, a gripping member formed at one end of the bar member, a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings in one face of the bar member, a slide member overlying the bar member and adapted for back-andforth movement relative thereto, a handle pivotally secured to the slide member, a latching member pivotally secured to the handle having a detent engageable in a selected opening in said bar member, and biasing means normally urging said latching member in a predetermined direction relative to said handle, pivotal movement of said handle toward said bar member operable to engage said detent in a selected opening in said bar member and thereby effect longitudinal movement of said slide member along said bar member toward said gripping member.

United States Patent 72] inventor Samuel Steel 4902 N. 15th St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19126 [211 App]. No. 801,697 [22] Filed Feb. 24,1969

[45] Patented Sept. 14,1971

[54] KITCHEN TOOL Primary Examiner-Othell M. Simpson Altorney-H0wson and Howson ABSTRACT: A device comprising an elongated bar member, a gripping member formed at one end of the bar member, a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings in one face of the bar member, a slide member overlying the bar member and adapted for back-and-forth movement relative thereto, a handle pivotally secured to the slide member, a latching member pivotally secured to the handle having a detent engageable in a selected opening in said bar member, and biasing means normally urging said latching member in a predetermined direction relative to said handle, pivotal movement of said handle toward said bar member operable to engage said detent in a selected opening in said bar member and thereby effect longitudinal movement of said slide member along said bar member toward said gripping member.

PATENTED SEP 1 4 IQTI KITCHEN TOOL The present invention relates to improvements in kitchen tools and more particularly to a device for removing caps from containers such as jars or other sealed containers. More specifically, the device is designed for removing conventional screw caps.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device for removing screw type caps or the like which is readily adjustable so that it may be used with a variety of sizes andwhich incorporates a cushioning clamping action whereby the closure cap may be firmly gripped and yet not overstressed to cause damage to the cap or the container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of relatively simple and durable design comprised of relatively few parts so that it may be easily and economically manufactured.

These and other objects of the present invention and various features and details of the operation and construction thereof are hereinafter more fully set forth with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein;

FIG. I is a perspective view of a closure removing device in accordance with the present invention and a closure and container of the type with which it is employed;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the closure removing device of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the handle in a latched position;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is a view showing the device forming an opening in a container.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, there is illustrated a closure removing device constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally designated by the numeral 10. The device includes an elongated bar member 12 of generally rectangular cross section having a series of axially aligned spaced openings 14 in its lower face and a gripping member 16 at one end of the bar member 12. The bar member 12 at its opposite end is downwardly offset as at 17 to seat more comfortably in the palm of the hand of the user. In the present instance the forward end of the bar member 12 is bent to a U-shaped configuration to form the gripping member 16 and three faces of the tip are bevelled as at 19a, 19b and 19c to form a tip 21.

The device further includes a generally U-shaped slide member 18 straddling the elongated bar member 12 and adapted for longitudinal back-and-forth movement between the gripping member 16 and a detent 20 spaced inwardly from the end of the bar member opposite the gripping member 16. An elongated handle 22 is pivotally secured at its inner end as at 24 to the slide 18, the handle being of generally U-shaped configuration so that it may be made by a stamping operation or the like. The inner end of the handle has enlarged side flange portions 26, each flange portion having a tapered side 28 and a rounded cam surface 30 which is shaped and positioned relative to the pivotal connection 24 so that pivotal movement of the handle in a clockwise direction with respect to FIG. 4 is limited.

The distance or spacing D between the center of the pivotal connection of the handle to the slide 18 and the lower face of the bar member is less than the spacing between the pivot 24 and the arcuate cam surface 30 to limit the pivotal movement 22 of the handle in a clockwise direction so that the positioning latch member 40 is spaced slightly below the lower face of the bar member to permit easy back-and-forth adjusting movement of the handle for purpose to be described in more detail hereafter. The latching member 40 is pivoted to the handle as at 42 by means of a pin 43 extending through the flange portions 26 of the handle, the latching member 40 terminating in a detent 44 which readily engages in a selected one of the openings 14. The latching member is biased in an upwardly direction by means of a torsion spring 46 circumscribing the pivot pin 43, the spring having projecting end extension arms 48 and 50 which engage the crosspiece of the handle and the latching member respectively in the manner shown in FIG. 4. The latching member has a forward projection 54 which limits rotation in a counterclockwise direction of the latching member relative to the handle.

In the use of the closure removing device of the present invention, the device is simply positioned over the top of the closure cap C so that the gripping member snugly embraces the cap along the sidewall thereof and the bottom of the bar member 12 is flush with the top of the cap. In this position, the slide member 18 is moved to a position closely adjacent the sidewall of the cap C. The handle 22 is then actuated by the user upwardly toward the bar member 12 in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1 whereby detent 44 of the latching member engages in one of the openings 14 in the lower face of the bar member 12. It is noted that if the detent 44 is not engaged in one of the openings, the slide member may be moved rearwardly slightly until it engages and seats in one of the openings. In this position the handle 22 is further actuated toward the bar member 12 against the bias of the spring 46 whereby, due to the offset toggle arrangement of the pivots 24 and 42, the slide member is moved longitudinally along the bar member until the lower edges firmly press against the sidewall of the cap diametrically opposed to the gripping member 16. This toggle arrangement of the pivot centers provides an adjusting stroke S shown in FIG. 5 so that the predetermined proper amount of gripping force may be applied to the cap by the user to turn the same. It is noted that the lower edge of the enlarged side flange portions 26 serve as a stop engageable with the lower face of the bar member 12 when the handle is pivoted toward the bar member so that the hand grip portion of the handle is spaced from the bar member when it is fully pivoted in this direction to minimize the chance of pinching the hand of the user. Of course, the user is supporting the container .l in the opposite hand and after the cap removing device of the present invention has been applied to the cap C in the manner described above, the device is simply rotated in the direction to turn the cap and remove it from the container.

It has been found that the device of the present invention is extremely effective in removing even tightly sealed caps and that by reason of the configuration of the tip 21 and the slide member 18, the device tends to center itself on the top of the cap C. Further, it is noted that when pressure is applied to the cap, the tip 21 penetrates the sidewall slightly to firmly grip the cap and prevent slippage.

In addition to the use of the device of the present invention discussed above, it may also be employed to form a discharge opening in a sealed container in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7. These containers generally designated X are usually made of metal and have top and bottom closures which are sealed to the cylindrical sidewall. When using the device for this purpose, the bar member 12 is placed in a position parallel to the sidewall with the tip 21 engaging the top Y of the container X and the sidewalls of the slide member 18 confront the bottom wall Z. The user then simply actuates the handle 22 in a manner to advance the slide member 18 forwardly relative to the bar member 12 whereby the tip 21 penetrates the top wall Y to form the discharge opening 50 therein.

If desired the opening may be formed in the sidewall of the container simply by positioning the device over the top of the container in the manner described above for removing a screw type cap from a container.

lclaim;

I. A device comprising an elongated bar member, a gripping member formed at one end of the bar member, a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings in one face of the bar member, a slide member overlying the bar member and adapted for back-and-forth movement relative thereto, a handle having a hand grip portion adjacent one end and pivotally secured to the slide member at its other end, a latching member pivotally secured to the handle having a detent engageable in a selected opening in said bar member, and biasing means normally urging said latching member in a predetermined direction relative to said handle, pivotal movement of said handle toward said bar member operable to engage said detent in a selected opening in said bar member and thereby effect longitudinal movement of said slide member along said bar member toward said gripping member, the other end of said handle being of a configuration to provide a stop to limit rotation of the handle in one direction toward said bar member to maintain the hand grip portion in spacing relation to said bar member and said other end of the handle having means to limit rotation of the handle in the opposite direction relative to said bar member.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said one end of the bar member is bent to a U-shaped configuration to form said gripping member and the terminal end of the bar member at said one end is beveled to form a gripping tip.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said inner end of the handle adjacent the pivot connection to the slide member is formed with a cam surface engageable with said bar member and operable to limit pivotal rotation of the handle in said other direction relative to said bar member.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inner end of said handle is formed with enlarged side flange portions and includes a pin extending between the side flange portions on which the latching member is pivotally mounted.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the latching member has a forward projection which is adapted to engage the crosspiece of the handle and wherein said biasing means includes a torsion spring circumscribing said pin and normally biasing said latching member to a position wherein the forward projection engages the crosspiece of the handle.

6. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the distance between the pivotal axis of the handle and the bar member is less than the distance between the pivotal axis and the cam surface. 

1. A device comprising an elongated bar member, a gripping member formed at one end of the bar member, a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings in one face of the bar member, a slide member overlying the bar member and adapted for back-andforth movement relative thereto, a handle having a hand grip portion adjacent one end and pivotally secured to the slide member at its other end, a latching member pivotally secured to the handle having a detent engageable in a selected opening in said bar member, and biasing means normally urging said latching member in a predetermined direction relative to said handle, pivotal movement of said handle toward said bar member operable to engage said detent in a selected opening in said bar member and thereby effect longitudinal movement of said slide member along said bar member toward said gripping member, the other end of said handle being of a configuration to provide a stop to limit rotation of the handle in one direction toward said bar member to maintain the hand grip portion in spacing relation to said bar member and said other end of the handle having means to limit rotation of the handle in the opposite direction relative to said bar member.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said one end of the bar member is bent to a U-shaped configuration to form said gripping member and the terminal end of the bar member at said one end is beveled to form a gripping tip.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said inner end of the handle adjacent the pivot connection to the slide member is formed with a cam surface engageable with said bar member and operable to limit pivotal rotation of the handle in said other direction relative to said bar member.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inner end of said handle is formed with enlarged side flange portions and includes a pin extending between the side flange portions on which the latching member is pivotally mounted.
 5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the latching member has a forward projection which is adapted to engage the crosspiece of the handle and wherein said biasing means includes a torsion spring circumscribing said pin and normally biasing said latching member to a position wherein the forward projection engages the crosspiece of the handle.
 6. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the distance between the pivotal axis of the handle and the bar member is less than the distance between the pivotal axis and the cam surface. 